Billy Joel: A Matter Of Trust: The Bridge To Russia 1987 (Documentary) - 1990s Broadcast
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- Опубликовано: 8 дек 2021
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A Matter Of Trust: The Bridge To Russia (A Documentary Film)
Recorded in 1987. All credits to Billy and his band.
Taken from a VHS tape recorded from a Television Broadcast in the mid-90s. Digitally restored and for the first time on RUclips the original version of the Documentary in 4:3 format with its edition for TV. Scaled to 1080 to preserve video quality.
It was August 2 and Billy Joel was full of fear, of nerves, because he was about to appear in the middle of the Cold War in Leningrad, what we know today as Saint Petersburg, Russia. To understand the dimension of this presentation, it is necessary to talk about the 1985 Geneva Summit, which was the first meeting between the then president of the United States, Ronald Reagan, and the leader of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, Mikhail Gorbachev.
The main objective of the meeting was to seek peace between the United States and the Soviet Union, Reagan himself defined the summit as a 'mission for peace', and as a contribution to the cultural exchanges agreed in this meeting, Billy Joel ventured to hold a six-concert tour of the USSR two years later.
On August 2, 1987, Billy Joel appeared at the Lenin Sports Complex in Leningrad, the audience was so euphoric that they broke some chairs and lifted Joel on their shoulders to remove him from the stage. The event was also broadcast on Moscow TV, which is why millions of Soviets saw this rock star showing his talent on stage.
The performance of the concert was a personal and professional victory for Billy Joel. The Soviet Union opened up to the world and the artist came to it with music, which marked an important advance for the relationship between the two continents. On the other hand, the importance of the event also lies in the fact that it was the first large-scale tour that a rocker from the United States dared to do in the USSR. It featured three presentations at the Moscow Olympic Stadium and three in Leningrad.
Some of the most iconic songs that Billy Joel performed in his performances were Back in the USSR by The Beatles and The Times They Are A-Changin 'by Bob Dylan. At the beginning of his show, people were shy, but then little by little, song after song, with the euphoria of the concert, the music became a universal language.
Apart from marking a milestone in musical history, this experience also impacted Billy Joel, who two years later, in 1989, decided to write a song to capture what he experienced on that date. The single was titled Leningrad and was included on the album Storm Front (1989). 
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He took a chance and chose to do this with his own money (over $2m) but gained SO MUCH respect for it. People today who don’t remember may not understand what a HUGE risk it was for Billy to even do this. He was already exhausted from touring prior to this, and also ran into the massive vocal issues, which he’d never dealt with before. I’m spite of all the challenges he faced, he opened so many peoples eyes and threw so many myths about the Russians to the curb. Just because the powers that be are doing bad things doesn’t make the people the enemy. This documentary is one of the most beautiful examples that we all have so much more in common than we may realize. He did something so amazing when it was needed most. The only thing bigger than his talent is his heart, and he’s never lost either of those.
Wow! Well said!!! 👏👏😢😢
Billy did an amazing thing by going over there. He really connected with the people there. What an amazing experience that must have been.
Russia needs more Billy Joel more than ever
❤
Это уж точно
Crazy how long Putin has been in POWER 😞
We all do...
@@cosmoshfa88savant66На своих сенаторов посмотреть не хотите? Сколько лет каждый из них у власти?)))
And the saddest part is that he was so sad that it did not change in 5 years....and now it is 30 years....and it did change....it got so much worse......soooooo sad.....
lol, the comment above this one says, 6 months after this was filmed, the Soviet Union collapsed. So, Idk what he was talking about. Sounds like change to me It might have been his tour that was the pebble in the pond, started the ripples that took the whole thing down.... lol, maybe they were like, 'Look what they tell us is evil, Billy Joel is not evil, his music is beautiful, and working class!' .. Whereas if 2 Live Crew toured first, they would have went no contact and built a wall around the whole country. hahah peace
I was in Leningrad in the Summer of 1986 for a College Overseas study program. I totally relate my experience to what Billy spoke about in this documentary. Billy Joel is an amazing person for having the vision and courage to perform in the Soviet Union at that time, 1987. I wasn't aware of his Soviet tour until many years later but I'm glad I found this documentary on YT. Billy has never received the recognition for doing this Soviet tour that he deserved at the time but I think he has gotten his respects through the years and his contributions to opening up this closed society to millions around the world.
Seems like the happiest time of his life. So sorry he and Christie didn't make it. Billy seems happy with new family now. God bless our wonderful Billy Joel.
Every time i watch this I cry. He writes these song with such meaning that you can see how serious he is.. i got to see Billy Joel about three years ago in Cincinatti. One hell of a show. He gives it his all. i love him and hope to see him again. We love you, Billy.😋😋
Excellent video. Thanks Billy Joel. Appreciate your humanity and kindness. Your a gifted musician and man.
I am close in age to BJ and I can remember the era of the 1960s to `1980s so well. It was American contemporary artists who where the true diplomats of the USA. BILLY JOEL FOR PRESIDENT. Bring on the love..bury hate and make all people great again.
THANK YOU for this video. Best thing I have see posted at RUclips in past five years!🙃
Magnificent! A piece of Russian history. Billy a born entertainer. A musical genius!
This documentary is a gem. Billy Joel is not just a musical genius but a wonderful man. What a time in history this was. Brilliant.
So sweet to see how much they love their daughter. What a great concert
Billy is a Good man
I just watched this and it broke me out of my Funk Amongst all this crazy unpresidented sadness.
Little did Billy know at the time this was filmed, that in 6 short months the Soviet Union would collapse, December 26, 1991. Crazy how fast it all happened.
Cool factoid, peace
I’m a big Joel fan. Beautiful documentary.
Dear Billy, this is the first time I’ve seen the documentary and I was moved to tears. I was always your fan even met you a couple of times but this documentary open another level of understanding of who you are. I’m deeply impressed and deeply moved by your art by who you are. I came to New York in 1984 from Croatia so I have another level of appreciation for what you have done. I have a busy schedule but I took time to watch it twice. Thank you fellow artist
I recorded this on VHS when it was originally broadcast on ABC in 1988. Wish I still had that tape. Piece of history.
But it says 1991 at the beginning!! Time traveler
I have that specific broadcast with the different intro on a recordable tape, I could try to recreate the experience for you!
@@laurencraigelsBilly did the USSR tour in 1987.
... birthday gift from a band mate to "Billy" in '86, Mets in middle of World Series. Mets
Catcher, GaryCarter came out out during "PRESSURE".
But tHIS! Of ALL the Billy and his band things, "The Cake"!!!
i Never truly FELT it this hard - fan or felt him since before Piano Man album. i often Resided within distance just different neighborhoods.
Excellent documentary and footage✨💙
The audience are great to watch...they really appreciated Billy.
"The only thing bigger than his talent is his heart." re: Molly
I went to the Soviet Union in 1989. I dragged around 30 CD's and a Panasonic portable CD player with me, and Billy made me a bunch of friends
Billy and his band went to a jam session and a concert broke out.
Ahh, thanks so much for making this video. It reveals the inside of Billy Joel's shows and Soviet of 1980s, it's much more than the songs, it's about establishing bonds, friendships and relations. We need more such efforts in today's divisive world.
In regards to the people and friends he made he did say “…I’d like to see them again” … might not be a better time than now
@@charliegervasi5619 definitely
Agreed.
Needed, but better , as in more possible. It would be nice to hear from specialists in tune with conditions in Russia currently, if this were true. The regimes in place in Russia are not the same as 40 years ago. Opportunity may have been missed. I wonder what Billy thinks.
An outstanding video that shows the power of music and the hard work Billy puts into it.
This tour was i feel the very best of his tours, he really did a wonderful job of breaking the cycle of stupidity that sadly has crept back into this world.
When it comes to deplomacy there is one hell of a lot 99% of U.S. polatitions could learn from Billy, but clearly they just dont want to, as he said he made a lot of friends doing this tour, and i can tell him that the people there still hold the light for him very proudly, with I met Billy Joel, and we would love to have him back again.
I dont just say that, i can tell you from the heart they really mean it, mybwife and i go there when we can to see family in St.Petersburg, for those who still rudely refer to the people there as communists, i feel that they need waking up and seeing the country and the people there for what tbey really are no different from Americans or any ither country, Billy really sumed this up in his song Leningrad, " He made my daughter laught then we embraced, we never knew whaf friends we had untill we came to Leningrad" a truth i found out for myself, a really outstanding tour, thanks Billy!!!!!
Just when I think I know the extent of Billy’s goodness and specialness, I realize there’s more.
Thank you for trying, Billy. You will always be my favorite singer, not only because of your relatable, amazing music, but because you are such a good soul.
2:54 Billy explain his reason for preforming in Russia
3:50 Victor: A Russian fan who became Billy's friend.
14:13 - Prelude / Angry Young Man
19:35 - Billy and Christie kiss!
20:03 - G@y moment
26:37 - Just The Way You Are
26:46 - My Life
36:04 - Sometimes A Fantasy
36:52 - RIP Yamaha CP80.
40:00 - Honesty
47:51 - Only The Good Die Young
51:45 "I'm writing my songs all over again....I forgot what it means to people"
52:13 Victor: part II
1:14:13 - The Longest Time
here’s another gay moment 19:31 - 19:34 mark and billy are terrifying “They went nuclear!” mark says calmly while keeping his hands on Billy’s face
That's who should be given the Nobel Peace Prize. Although it no longer means any significance, there has been a depreciation of moral values in the West. Except money.
One of the greatest documentaries ever made and I’m not even a big BJ fan
Only Billy was able to achieve that.
And we all love him for it🤘
It's so lovely seing Victor in every audience😍
Imagine Billy Joel visiting you place😱i would just faint, i guess
Much ❤️ from Austria 🇦🇹
This is great. What a time-capsule. Thanks for uploading.
People are just people over the whole world. Heads in power who want more power create hate and pain.
I recorded this when it was first on and watched it over and over and over. I then lost it through the years and have been looking for it ever since. I bought the CD when they miraculously released it with the version of "New York State of Mind" from this show - in my mind, the DEFINITIVE version of that song - but I craved the video. THANK YOU for getting it online where I can enjoy it as much as I used to when I was a kid.
It's a great show
This sure reveals the Man Billy Joel really is.
His heart was in the right place.
I feel sorry for the people of Russia who live in such repression.
Also I am sickened by Russia going to war with Ukraine.
Your beloved Ukraine was given 8 years to fulfil the peace agreements and stop shelling the people of Donbass. Ukrainian polititians revealed recently that they didn't even think of fulfilling the agreements, instead they used this time to get more weapons. Ukrainian nazis proved that they don't deserve Donbass and its people (given to it in 1922 by the communists that you must hate so much).
С этим не согласны и в России, но нас мало.
Historically timeless, Magnificent ! Thank you for this! ❤
I like how the guitarists don't notice Billy flipped his keyboard over until 10 seconds later
In our home we love you so much Billy Joel. !!! I love watching this concert series over and over...its so goooooood
Not sure how this happened…YT recommended this to me. I went to Moscow, Leningrad and Tbilisi in 1990 so this really hit me in so many ways.
Thank you Billy Joel !!!!!
I hope Victor is still with us. 9/16/22
Yes, and I was hoping they stayed in touch.
Two great musical artists have seen me through. Both have incredible depth of emotion and sage wisdom. One is King David. One is Billy Joel. I love that his little girl, Alexis, moved him to want peace for mankind. Eventually the Kingdom of peace will be given to all but only the prince of peace can bring that. 🙏🙏❤️for Billy’s kind heart. Psalm 78
We will not hide these truths from our children; we will tell the next generation about the glorious deeds of the LORD, about his power and his mighty wonders. Psalm 78:4
Love his music and love his geart and humanity even more. 😎🎹❤️
My mom is a huge fan of his music and I grew up listening to his songs including some of his underrated ones like a matter of trust and Leningrad.
THANKS FOR UPLOADING THIS AMAZING FOOTAGE OF BILLYJOEL - I RECORDED THE 1988 JUNE 16 ABC BROADCAST ON VHS AND WILL SOON UPLOAD IT ALL OF IT OR PARTS OF IT ON MY RUclips CHANNEL - THANK YOU FOR ALL OF YOUR UPLOADS AS BILLY JOEL IS A TRUE AMERICAN ARTIST/MUSICAL GENIUS!!! BEST WISHES, COMIC MAN GUS
Amazing!
music for the hearts and souls can change the world☮️❤️☮️🙏
"The Cold War ended for me right then and there." - Billy Joel after his trip to Russia.
Wow....there are so many lessons to be learned here......We need to listen now to what he said then....and be sad for the fact that it became so much worse since then....we went backwords since then and we all know it, and discuss it...but do not know what to do?
thank you for uploading. i was in tears
I saw Billy Joel at Penn State in late 1973. I hadn't really heard of him...other than Piano Man... and that wasn't my thing back then. He even played some music from YES in his concert
WOW. Great documentary.
THIS IS WONDERFUL!!! THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!!! From a fan from Argentina
You're welcome!
What a gem 💎 of a documentary! Makes you realize what life is about, and the importance of travel abroad…
Thank you so much. THAT WAS AMAAAZING!!!!
Thank you for posting this amazing example of what is the truth of all people: we are all connected beyond the borders that we’ve made “for” each other.
One of the first songs I heard by him. Great album. His catalog is massive. Easy Target is very political. Gone more that path later in life.
Loved It! Thanks for Sharing.
If it is not possible to live in peace, then I would like us not to interfere with each other
i am so amazed how music unites. that part in georgia knocked me off. georgia ex ussr sound like georgia usa,
Lol, it's just in English. In Russian it's Gruzia, and its own name is Sakartvelo.
the drummer from billy joel😅is so so funny and good😍
Bless you for uploading. Love you.
Billy Joel singing folk is just so wonderful.
Beautiful.
Thank You...beautiful!
観られてよかったです！ありがとうございます
Thank you so much!!!
Wow, how much has changed about attitudes towards them, and their attitude towards us. Music builds the best bridges.
I don't really understand the business or legal copyright aspects of bootlegs. You obviously have put work into this, but so has Billy Joel and the people who worked on this project or whoever owns the copyright on this now. I remember seeing the Billy Joel USSR concerts on tv in the 80s, perhaps it was the concert itself or it was reported on in some news magazine tv show. It is nice to look at this as a historical document and think how things have changed.
How important this was. All blown away..
This was awesome. I wonder if he still keeps in touch with the Russian man
Just FAB. Thank you all -
i met a young man from Gorja tonight and hAd to refind and show him this!
And then i got to re-watch and listen even deeper this time!!
Amazing!
@@MatthewBillyJoelBootlegs Yas, we exchanged #'s. He's a good man and his father as well!
i would like to show you something that the guys brought to me in about 1981.
It hangs on a wall in a now lonely room.
Ah believe it was 'taken' from a nyc subway by them, lol.
(( also, had jammed with "Tommy" a bunch of times when he'd come off the road. He loved Rockabilly, 'perfectionist Beatles, yoU know! 🙂💙🌲
@@jeffreyfeinstein5525 That's interesting! You can show me via twitter.
@@MatthewBillyJoelBootlegs (( Ty! ***
must see...dont miss this!
And grateful
The greatest piano man of all time
Most amazing thing
Use Leningrad in my Cold War lessons every year when I teach high school. Just such a cool snapshot of hope and humanity in the midst of fear and hatred
WHEN WE HERE ARE READY WE CAN ASK BILLY TO BE OUR AMBASSADOR OF HUMANITY TO GO THERE .
I thought peace might be happening in those days .
Beautiful!
If you would like to help with the timestamps, you can leave the one you like the most to make the video more enjoyable.
Huge Billy fan. Never saw this before. Absolutely amazing. Does anyone know if Viktor is still and did they meet again? Leningrad was always one of my favourite songs. Cant wait to see him in Cardiff this August. Flying from Dublin and going on my own.
i bow to billy here , a wow of honesty
I love how Billy was wondering why his throat was in bad shape, but 26:23 happened, and I'm like yeah that probably didn't help. LOL
Lovely ending tune.
13:23 chills, damn legend
Did Kevin and Dave have some sort of thing with each other? They were always looking at each other so longingly during that instrumental part of sometimes of fantasy.
36:04 - Sometimes A Fantasy
24:25-24:40... on the CD, "Angry Young Man" comes in afterward.
That dude with the earring was definitely doing a ton of blow :P
Why can’t a man smile at me like Billy to Christie in the height of their love? 😂
And her to him. They were married, had a child, and she still looked at him in amazement when he was done playing :)
Piano Man il migliore 👏🎹👏🎹
😅😂😅I love the phantastic drummer from billy joel... Always strong 😅❤️
That is the great and powerful Liberty Devitto!!!!
audience loved the concert, Billy Joel reached the Rusdian people
But still love the rock and roll.
I like the russian documentory and where the Russian men , coming together to join musically must have been some great moments
Billy Joel os a tremendous talent but sometimes his politics are off base. Still one of my favorite artists.
Perhaps your’s is off base. You don’t say how.
And blues.
It’s November 2023 and I am watching this video. We have two wars that shake the world today: Russia’s invasion in Ukraine, and the war in Israel. Yes, there were times when there was hope, short periods of time: remember Mikhail Gorbachev and his perestroika. Remember Arafat and Rhabin shaking hands… today all one can do is cry.
So right.
36:52 my favourite part
and here we are again
here we go again
Bullets and Bombs don't bring peace
And Freedom isn't free
What is the price of a life ?
History repetitive BS
How about a She story
Patriarchy is hateful old men Wars
"Again"? During the USSR there were no such things as Ukrainian nazis in the authorities shelling the people of Donbass that initially just demanded the all-country elections after the coup of 2014, or neverending Karabakh wars between the now "free" Armenia and Azerbaijan.
The Rusdian people seem to be so loyal and lovable
Ended too soon
❤❤❤